Mrs Mayra Cabrera

Our firm have been acting for Arnel Cabrera, the widower of Mrs Mayra Cabrera who died at Great Western Hospital (GWH) in Swindon on the 11 May 2004 shortly following childbirth.

The background to this very sad case is as follows: Mayra was only aged 30 at the time of her death. Both she and her husband are Filipino by birth. She was granted a work permit to come to the UK during 2002 as an “essential worker”. She was joined by her husband during 2003. Ironically, she was working as a Theatre Nurse at GWH at the time of her death.

During late 2003 she became pregnant with her first child. She was admitted to the delivery suite at GWH on the 10 May 2004 after beginning regular contractions. Eventually on the 11 May 2004 at about 8.14am she gave birth to a healthy baby boy who was later to be called Zac.

About 45 minutes following childbirth, Mayra began to feel dizzy and faint and she was put under observation. She then began fitting and suffered a cardiac arrest. Resuscitation attempts were implemented but sadly unsuccessful. Within 2 hours of giving birth to her son she had died. Her husband had been in the room as the doctors fought in vain to save her life.

Whilst resuscitation was being attempted on Mayra medical staff noted a 500mls bag of Bupivacaine (a potent epidural anaesthetic) which had been wrongly connected to a cannula and inserted in her right arm. Bupivacaine should only be administered to a patient epidurally (for pain relief) and not into the blood intravenously. This drug had been wrongly hooked up to Mayra’s drip instead of a saline solution.

Later examination of the bag indicated that Mayra must have been given between 100mls and 150mls of this solution intravenously, enough to kill her. The Pathologist in his post mortem examination concluded that she had died from Bupivacaine toxicity. Notwithstanding the Post Mortem report, Arnel had been told that his wife had died from natural causes. As a consequence of her death, Arnel had no option but to return to the Philippines in June 2004; since his residency status in the UK depended on his wife being alive and working he was no longer able to work. In May 2005, our firm was instructed by Arnel (through a friend in Swindon) to investigate the circumstances surrounding his wife’s death.

In July 2005, the Hospital Trust wrote to our firm and confirmed that Mayra’s death was caused as a direct result of a mix-up of the drugs in the maternity department which had caused her to be given an excessive and lethal dose of Bupivacaine. They were prepared to admit liability in any future civil claim. It is disappointing that the real reason for Mayra’s death only came to light some 14 months after she died and not surprisingly this came as a complete shock to her husband.

A Jury Inquest took place into Mayra’s death over a period of 4 weeks at the beginning of 2008. The Inquest closely examined how the Bupivacaine came to be administered by a midwife in error. Arnel, the Hospital Trust, the Midwife who administered this drug and the Health & Safety Executive were all represented. A number of the hospital staff who treated Mayra and independent medical experts attended to give oral evidence.

What became clear during the Inquest is that Mayra’s death was not a “one-off” accident. It appears that there have been at least two other fatal accidents in the NHS where epidural infusions of Bupivacaine were administered intravenously in error – these are described by the NHS as “wrong route drug errors”. Both these deaths pre-dated Mayra’s death in 2004. Recommendations were made by the Coroners in these cases to the Department of Health in an effort to avoid this type of tragedy occurring again and as a result the National Patient Safety Agency came into being. It was clear during the course of the Inquest that wrong route drug errors continue to take place regularly within the NHS despite the preventative checks that are in place.

In addition, the following evidence also came to light during the Inquest:-

there were also two other “near misses” at old Princess Margaret Hospital in Swindon involving the intravenous administration of Bupivacaine, once in 1994 and on a second occasion during 2001;

a policy was introduced by the Hospital to keep Bupivacaine stored in a locked cupboard and separate from the intravenous fluids but unfortunately this policy was discarded on their move to GWH in 2002

the Midwife who made this catastrophic blunder (she had at least 6 opportunities to check this fluid before administering it to Mayra) was not disciplined or placed under any supervision by the Hospital following Mayra’s death. During the course of her evidence at the Inquest she did not publicly acknowledge that she had made an error. She has shown no remorse for what she did which has been very upsetting for Arnel.

On the 4 February 2008 (after some 17 hours deliberation) the Jury returned a majority verdict namely a verdict of unlawful killing against the individual midwife for gross negligence by reason of her administration of this drug and also against the Hospital for corporate gross negligence manslaughter by reason of their unsafe storage of Bupivacaine at GWH.

The unlawful killing verdict against the Hospital Trust is a landmark decision. It is believed to be the first such finding against an NHS Trust rather than a named individual. Following the Inquest GWH apologised unreservedly for the mistakes which had been made and say that they had learned its lesson. They would now take steps to prevent the re-occurrence of what had happened to Mayra.

The Coroner (Mr David Masters) said that he would be writing to the Department of Health, the Midwifery Council, the relevant Royal Colleges and the General Medical Council recommending that staff training and the storage and administration of drugs should be overhauled. He also wants the connectors for epidural drugs to be changed so that a mix-up would be unlikely to reoccur in the future. He said

“The nettle needs to be firmly grasped. It is quite clear that what is needed is a firm and radical approach to tackle the problems raised.

Firstly, we need equipment which can only be used for epidural use – giving sets, syringes and infusion bags which can only be attached for epidural use. Because we are in a global market place the manufacturers have to look to Europe and not just UK requirements. This is something the Minister for Health should tackle”.
To add to the travesty of justice in this case, Arnel’s leave to remain in the UK was due to expire at the end of February 2008. He had only been given temporary leave to stay in the UK pending the conclusion of the Inquest. We have submitted a further application to the Home Office for permission for Arnel to remain indefinitely in the UK on compassionate grounds. Our request has been backed by the Coroner who criticised the way in which Arnel’s case had been dealt with by the Home Office until now. He said

“I found it quite extraordinary that this man has not the benefit of knowing that he can stay in this country for the foreseeable future. I would wholeheartedly support his right to stay had I any say in this matter. It seems to me that the red tape should be cut and thrown away and that this should be done quickly, sooner rather than later. He should in no circumstances remain prejudiced as to his right to stay in this country where perversely that right has come to an end by the death of his wife in the circumstances which we have all heard about and in the light of the extremely serious verdict which the Jury has recorded”.

Arnel has shown great fortitude and courage during recent years and we all hope at S J Edney that his case will have a happy outcome. It was Mayra’s wish to bring up her son in their newly adopted country and we hope that the Government will show true compassion as well as honouring Mayra’s memory by righting the wrong which an NHS Hospital has done to Arnel and his family.

TV coverage of this case

BBC Points West TV coverage – January 2010

BBC Points West TV coverage – February 2008

Verdict

“Mayra Cabrera deceased was killed unlawfully – gross negligence manslaughter re the storage and administration of an epidural drug at Great Western Hospital, Swindon.”

This is the first time an NHS Hospital Trust has been the subject of an unlawful killing verdict.

STATEMENT TO THE PRESS 05.2.2008

Mayra was my love and my life. On the 11 May 2004 we were overjoyed when our son, Zac, was born, however our life together was ripped apart by the action of a midwife who failed to check the fluid she gave to my wife. She had 6 opportunities to check this fluid. Had she done so, Mayra would have been alive today.

The midwife’s failure to accept responsibility or show any remorse for her actions have made me very bitter and angry. I cannot forgive her and now hope that the Police and CPS will prosecute her for manslaughter.

The Inquest has also revealed that the former Chief Pharmacist and the Hospital Trust itself must share some of the blame for failing to ensure that the drug Mayra was given was locked away safely.

I hope and pray that the Trust and the NHS will learn lessons from this episode so other patients do not suffer a similar fate to that of Mayra.

The Coroner has said he will be writing to the Minister of Health to recommend fundamental changes relating to the administration and storage of medicines and I wholeheartedly endorse these recommendations.

I understand that the Immigration Minister, Liam Byrne has been reconsidering the Government’s decision to deport me and my son from this country which I have grown to love. It was Mayra’s wish to bring up our son in our newly adopted country and I hope that the Government will show true compassion as well as honouring Mayra’s memory by righting the wrong that an NHS Hospital has done to us.

Finally, I would like to thank my friends and family and especially my Solicitor, Mr Seamus Edney and Barrister, Mr Gerwyn Samuel for all the support and sympathy they have given to me during these difficult few years.

Arnel Cabrera

Mayra Cabrera GWH Swindon

Mrs Mayra Cabrera photographed shortly before giving birth

ARNEL CABRERA GRANTED LEAVE TO STAY – 04.08.2008

The Home Office have now reversed their earlier decision and confirmed that Arnel Cabrera will be granted indefinite leave to remain in the UK. This is fantastic news and he is applying for his son to join him in Swindon as soon as possible. Arnel would like to thank everyone who supported his campaign to stay especially his Union (Unison), his local MP, Anne Snelgrove and those hundreds of people who signed the S J Edney on-line position expressing their support for him. It has been a very difficult 4 years for Arnel and he can now look to the future and start to rebuild a family life for himself and his son in Swindon as he and Mayra had planned before her tragic death.

ITV News coverage – January 2010

We would like to thank Mary Smith and your team for all the effort and hard work that you have undertaken on our behalf and to express our gratitude for the successful settlement that you achieved for us.

Now that my case has drawn to a conclusion, I would like to thank Mary and her team for the excellent care I have received throughout the claim process.

Thank you for the way you have handled this and all your help in resolving to good conclusion. I would have no reservations in recommending you in the future.

I regard SJ Edney Solicitors as an outstanding clinical negligence firm, and I would not hesitate to recommend the firm to my own friends and family. Seamus and Mary genuinely care about their clients.

Barrister, Eloise Power, Serjeants’ Inn Chambers

Thank you so much for all your help. I am really pleased with the final outcome and the excellent service that I received from you – I really am.

The service provided was excellent. Very professional staff who were courteous and helpful throughout… provided a first class service… I wish to thank you very much.

I found the service very good with good levels of communication with a personal level of care, unlike other No Win No Fee organisations.

You have been fantastic so thank you! I shall know who to call in the future and will certainly recommend your expertise.

SJ Edney are a great local firm, who clearly care for their clients. They run their cases really well, progress them promptly and get good results.